BBC Paris Olympics 2024 virtual set extension showing a reverse angle looking back into the virtual cast iron pavilion. The scene was prepared by Lightwell, using Unreal Engine

BBC Paris Olympics 2024 virtual set extension wrapped around the physical desk. The scene was prepared by Lightwell, using Unreal Engine

A scene from the BBC's virtual set for the Paris Olympics 2024 designed and built by Lightwell using Unreal Engine. Presenters are showing in a virtual Parisian square, beside a BBC branded Ctroen HY coffee van

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BBC Paris Olympics 2024: A Virtual Studio in the City of Light

For the 2024 Paris Olympics, BBC Sport ran a competitive pitch for their studio design. Toby Kalitowski of BK Design Projects and Lightwell — already trusted BBC Sport partners from the Tokyo Olympics, the Beijing Winter Olympics, and the Match of the Day studio — won the pitch together.

The Brief

The brief was ambitious: a hybrid studio that combined a real physical space in Paris - with a genuine view of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro - with virtual set extensions that could transport presenters across a range of Parisian locations.

The Design Concept

‍The design took its inspiration from Paris's Belle Époque architectural heritage. The main virtual environment is a cast iron pavilion — aged and weathered, with chipped metalwork and rust details that give it an authentic, lived-in quality. Modern glass floors are set over a combination of old tiles, iron decking, and open voids revealing the structure beneath - a layering of eras that mirrors Paris itself. The pavilion sits within a virtual urban square evoking the spirit of Montmartre.

A second, distinct presentation space - the Parisian square - gave directors an entirely different editorial register. At its centre: a classic Citroën HY food truck, finished in a heritage BBC Sport paint livery, providing a relaxed backdrop for lighter interviews and guest discussions. It was a detail that gave the coverage warmth and playfulness alongside the more formal analysis spaces.

A Hybrid of Real and Virtual

‍This was a genuinely hybrid production. The physical studio in the Trocadéro offered what Sally Richardson, BBC Sport's lead director, described as "the best view in Paris" - a live backdrop of the Eiffel Tower visible behind presenters. The greenscreen then extended that real-world view into a suite of virtual Parisian environments, seamlessly merging what was genuinely there with what Lightwell had built in Unreal Engine. Team GB athletes were filmed prior to the Games and converted into 360 avatars for use within the studio space throughout the tournament.

Technical Delivery

‍The set was built in Unreal Engine 5.2, using Lumen and Nanite for photorealistic real-time rendering, with additional texturing created in Adobe Substance Designer and Painter. Virtual integration was handled by Moov, who also operated the system live during broadcasts. BBC Sport's Vizrt platform, controlled remotely from MediaCity in Salford under the stewardship of BBC Sport senior software engineer Andy Bowker, powered the graphics and keying systems throughout.

The production operated across a split-site workflow - gallery direction and editing from Salford, with the physical studio and camera crew in Paris. Richardson noted the challenge this presented: "From a director's point of view, not being able to go out onto the studio floor and get an understanding of how movement works - that is really tricky." Despite this, the crew found creative possibilities within the virtual world that exceeded expectations. "Our jib operator Carl Wilson - he finds things in the VR world which I don't think any of us ever really thought would be possible," said Richardson.

The Result

‍A studio that demonstrated how a hybrid real-virtual approach, when thoughtfully designed, can add genuine editorial richness to live event coverage - not just visual spectacle. The BBC's Paris 2024 Olympics coverage went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Sports Coverage in May 2025, and the IOC Golden Rings Award for Best Innovations (AI/Technology) in November 2024.

The NewscastStudio review of the studio is available here.

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